the winds of heaven, irrevocably as the light of a flame blown out. Yet
all the doors were barred, all the windows unopened. Still the child
slept, smiling in his sleep. Outside, the darkness was breaking; the sky
was brightening swiftly; the night was past. With splendid majesty the
East threw open high gates of gold for the coming of the sun; and,
illuminated by the glory of his coming, the vapors of morning wrought
themselves into marvellous shapes of shifting color,--into forms weirdly
beautiful as the silken dreams woven in the loom of Tchi-Niu.

[Illustration: Chinese calligraphy]




The Return of Yen-Tchin-King


_Before me ran, as a herald runneth, the Leader of the Moon;
And the Spirit of the Wind followed after me,--quickening his flight._

LI-SAO.




THE RETURN OF YEN-TCHIN-KING


In the thirty-eighth chapter of the holy book, _Kan-ing-p'ien_, wherein
the Recompense of Immortality is considered, may be found the legend of